Robert Townsend
Robert Townsend (born February 6, 1957) is an American actor, director, comedian, and writer. Townsend is best known for directing the films Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Eddie Murphy Raw (1987), The Meteor Man (1993), The Five Heartbeats (1991) and various other films and stand-up specials. He is especially known for his eponymous self-titled character, Robert Peterson as the starring role as on The WB sitcom The Parent 'Hood (1995–1999), a series which he created and of which directed select episodes. Townsend is also known for his role as Donald "Duck" Matthews in his 1991 film The Five Heartbeats. He later wrote, directed and produced Making The Five Heartbeats (2018), a documentary film about the production process and behind the scenes insight into creating the film. Townsend is also known for his production company Townsend Entertainment which has produced films Playin' for Love, In the Hive and more. During the 1980s and early–1990s, Townsend gained national exposure through his stand-up comedy routines and appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Townsend has worked with talent including Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Chris Tucker, Beyoncé, Denzel Washington and many more.
Senior Trip
(Randy)
The Meteor Man
(Jefferson Reed)
The Mighty Quinn
(Maubee)
A Soldier's Story
(Corporal Ellis)
Hollywood Shuffle
(Bobby Taylor)
Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!!
(Self)
The Five Heartbeats
(Duck)
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
(Self)
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
(Minor Role (uncredited))
Odd Jobs
(Dwight)
Directors on Directing
(Self)
Ratboy
(Manny)
The Warriors
(Baseball Fury (uncredited))
Black Listed
(Alan Chambers)
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
(himself)
Taxman
(Peyton Cody)
Of Boys and Men
(Holden Cole)
Tao of The Golden Mask
Up, Up, and Away
(Jim Marshall / Bronze Eagle)
Edge of Outside
(Bobby Taylor (archive footage))
Uptown Comedy Express
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
(Charlie Love)
Robin Harris: One Night Stand
(Bum #3)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
Cooley High
(Basketball Player in Gym Class)
I Was a Teenage Faust
(Mr. Five)
Playin' for Love
(Coach Banks)
That's Adequate
(Standup Comic)
Streets of Fire
(The Sorels - Lester)
Undercover Brother
(Mr. UB)
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder
(Self)
In Love with an Older Woman
(James)
A Walk with Charles Burnett
(Self)
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire
(Vampire Actor #1 (voice))
Joseph's Gift
(James Saunders)
Willie and Phil
(Thin Boy)
American Flyers
(Jerome)
Love Songs
(Champ)
Women at West Point
(Russell Baker)
Stuart Hall: Representation & the Media
(Archive Footage (Hollywood Shuffle))
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
The Monkey Hustle
(Musician)
Jackie's Back!
(Robert Townsend)
M*A*S*H
(Patient)
The Parent 'Hood
(Robert Peterson)
The Carol Burnett Show
Black in the 80s
(Self)
Amazing Stories
(Billy Burliss)
The Bear
(Emmanuel Adamu)
Hollywood Squares
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
(Rumpelstiltskin (voice))
Black Lightning
(Dr. Napier Frank)
Before
From Behind Closed Doors
(Director)
The Meteor Man
(Screenplay)
The Meteor Man
(Producer)
The Meteor Man
(Director)
Hollywood Shuffle
(Director)
Jackie's Back!
(Director)
The Five Heartbeats
(Director)
The Five Heartbeats
(Writer)
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
(Director)
Eddie Murphy Raw
(Director)
Carmen: A Hip Hopera
(Director)
B.A.P.S
(Director)
Phantom Punch
(Director)
Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me
(Writer)
Little Richard
(Director)
Bill Cosby: Far From Finished
(Director)
Up, Up, and Away
(Director)
In the Hive
(Director)
Uptown Comedy Express
(Writer)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
(Director)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2
(Writer)
Hollywood Shuffle
(Writer)
Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy?
(Director)
Bill Cosby: Far From Finished
(Thanks)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
(Writer)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1
(Director)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
(Executive Producer)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
(Director)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3
(Writer)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
(Executive Producer)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
(Director)
Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4
(Writer)
Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story
(Director)
The Five Heartbeats
(Producer)
Holiday Heart
(Director)
Hollywood Shuffle
(Producer)
Making The Five Heartbeats
(Director)
Black Listed
(Director)
10,000 Black Men Named George
(Director)
Diary of a Single Mom
(Director)
Playin' for Love
(Director)
Playin' for Love
(Writer)
A Walk with Charles Burnett
(Director)
Love Songs
(Director)
Of Boys and Men
(Producer)
The Parent 'Hood
(Director)
The Parent 'Hood
(Producer)
South of Nowhere
(Director)
Black Lightning
(Director)
Colin in Black and White
(Director)
Kaleidoscope
(Director)
The Wonder Years
(Director)
Poppa's House
(Director)
The Parent 'Hood
(Creator)
Townsend Television
(Creator)